The Prospector (train)
Passenger train between East Perth and Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Prospector is a rural passenger train service in Western Australia operated by Transwa between East Perth and Kalgoorlie. On this service, two trains depart almost at the same time in opposite directions: one travels between East Perth and Kalgoorlie, the other between Kalgoorlie and East Perth with a crew changeover occurring in Merredin.
A train of Transwa WDA/WDB/WDC class railcars operating on this service near Kalgoorlie in February 2010. | |||||
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Passenger train | ||||
| Status | Operational | ||||
| Locale | Western Australia | ||||
| Predecessor | The Kalgoorlie | ||||
| First service | 29 November 1971 | ||||
| Current operator | Transwa | ||||
| Former operators |
| ||||
| Ridership | 68,497 (year to June 2022) | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | East Perth Kalgoorlie | ||||
| Distance travelled | 653 km (406 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 6 hours 45 minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | 9 trips in each direction per week | ||||
| Lines used | |||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | WDA/WDB/WDC railcars | ||||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||||
| |||||
History
With the standard gauge line from Perth to Kalgoorlie due to open in mid-1969, the Western Australian Government Railways decided to replace The Kalgoorlie overnight sleeper service with a daylight service. The new service commenced on 29 November 1971, cutting the 653-kilometre (406 mi) journey time from fourteen to eight hours. With an average speed of 85 km/h (53 mph), it was the fastest service in Australia at the time.[1][2][3][4]
In 2004, the original railcars in use since 1971 were replaced with trains capable of reducing the journey time to 6 hours 45 minutes.[5]
Stops
Services
There is one train each way daily between East Perth and Kalgoorlie. On Mondays and Fridays, there are two services each way.[6]
Onboard facilities
Each seat on board is in the same class. At every seat there is a touchscreen entertainment system with a small selection of movies, TV shows and music. They also offer a tray table, in-seat AC power (Australian type only), and a foot rest.[7]
Food is not complimentary on board and can be bought at the buffet. The buffet offers a variety of items such as ham and cheese croissants, pies, muffins, soft drinks, potato chips, lollies and alcohol.[7][8]
In 2022, Wi-Fi internet access was introduced to the service.[9]
Rolling stock
In 1968, Comeng, Granville were awarded a contract to build eight WAGR WCA/WCE class railcars.[2][4][10]
Built to take advantage of the generous loading gauge on the new line, they were the largest carriages ever built in Australia. They were also the first trains in Australia to have at-seat catering.[4] These held the record for the highest speed attained by an Australian train until bettered by a New South Wales XPT in September 1981.[11]
In December 2000, Westrail awarded a contract to United Goninan, Broadmeadow for seven Transwa WDA/WDB/WDC class railcars to replace the original railcars.[12][13]
The first entered service on 28 June 2004.[5] The new railcars are capable of 200 km/h (124 mph), but track conditions restrict their top speed to 160 km/h (99 mph).[14] Nonetheless, they further reduced journey times to 6 hours 45 minutes.[6]
Ridership
The Prospector had 68,497 passengers in the year leading up to June 2022.[15]
